Inequality and Growth in Modern China

Guanghua Wan

• 'Over the past three decades, China has made huge strides in its battle against poverty as it has transformed into one of the most dynamic economies in the world. It will be harder for China to maintain its past rate of progress against poverty without addressing the problem of rising inequality. The book Inequality and Growth in Modern China provides a useful overall assessment about inequality in China, focus on inequality in view of the growing concerns with rising inequality, the cause and impacts of rising inequality, and its relation to overall growth and poverty reduction. It will not only help policy makers understand the inequality in China but also be a useful pedagogical tool for Chinese and other researchers.' - Shaohua Chen, Senior Statistician, Development Research Group, the World Bank
• 'The chapters contained in this volume offer a comprehensive view of modern China's experience with the triangle of growth, inequality, and poverty. They collectively provide valuable insights for other developing countries in the pursuit of inclusive growth strategies.' - Xianbin Yao, Director General, Regional and Sustainable Development Department, Asian Development Bank
• 'Inequality in income and wealth, what causes it and how it affects the rest of economy, has become one of the key topics both in the economics literature and the popular press. This is because the last quarter century has witnessed a veritable exposition of inequality in almost all parts of the world. And perhaps nowhere has this exposition been as large as in China. Its impact there was 'softened' by remarkable economic growth. Yet as regional and class fissures, reminiscent of a long-gone era, reappear, the relationship between inequality and growth is rapidly becoming one of the top political issues in China. This book addresses different facets of China's inequality-growth relationship, and will be a useful reading for China specialists as well as for those interested in inequality and growth as such since China is the largest 'laboratory' where they can observe it.' - Branko Milanovic, Lead Economist, World Bank Research Department
• 'This volume of high quality research resulting from UNU-WIDER provides an essential reference for scholars and students worldwide in their research and studies on growth and income inequality in modern China. The editor, Dr Guanghua Wan, is one of the world's most productive and authoritative experts on the Chinese economy.' - Shujie Yao, Professor of Economics and Chinese Sustainable Development, and Head of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies, University of Nottingham and Special Chair Professor of Economics, Xi'an Jiaotong University
• 'The papers collected in this book come from leading scholars studying China's inequality issues. It is a timely book. Rising inequality in China is well known; less well known are the linkages between various aspects of China's economic growth strategy and inequality. This book offers fresh perspectives as well as solid evidence for a better understanding of these linkages. It is a valuable reference for scholars concerned with the relationship between economic growth and inequality as well as for students on China.' - Yang Yao, Deputy Director, China Center for Economic Research, Peking University

• Comprehensive coverage of topics relating to inequality and poverty in China
• Utilizes alternative data sets to produce roboust and reliable policy recommendations
• Discusses the impact of increasing inequality in China on the global economy, and specifically the US and EU

Guanghua Wan, Senior Research Fellow, UNU-WIDER